Medicine Supply Notification: Micronised Progesterone (Utrogestan ® ) 100mg capsules

Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has issued a medicine supply notification for Micronised Progesterone (Utrogestan®) 100mg capsules.

MSN/2023/052

Tier 2 – medium impact

Date of issue 19th May 2023

  • There are intermittent supplies of micronised progesterone (Utrogestan®) 100mg capsules until late 2023, resulting in brief periods every month when this product will be unavailable
  • To ensure that all patients have access to treatment, a Serious Shortage Protocol (SSP) has been issued on 19/05/2023 to limit the quantity of Utrogestan® capsules supplied to patients to 2 months.

Unlicensed imports

The following specialist importers have confirmed they can source unlicensed progesterone 100mg (Utrogest) capsules (please note there may be other companies that can also source supplies):

If there is currently no listing on dm+d for the imported product for prescribers to select using their prescribing systems an EPS prescription for unlicensed progesterone 100mg cannot be issued. Where a prescriber wishes to prescribe a specially manufactured or imported product, an FP10 paper prescription should be issued as ‘ progesterone 100mg capsules (Utrogest) (Special Order)‘ and endorsed by the pharmacy as a non-Part VIIIB special with the following information:

  • Amount dispensed over pack size used;
  • Invoice price per pack size from which the order was supplied less any discount or rebate;
  • Manufacturers’/importers’ MHRA licence number;
  • Batch number of the product supplied;
  • SP

A copy of this medicine supply notification, including further information, has been sent to all pharmacy NHS email addresses.

DHSC and NHSE/I have now launched an online Medicines Supply Tool, which provides up to date information about medicine supply issues. The contents of these MSNs can now be viewed on the Tool.

The Tool also details any changes to resupply dates and updates to the entries.

To access the Tool you will need  an NHS email address. Once set up and logged in, you will be able to access it online.

New shortages not listed on the SPS website, can be reported using our shortage reporting tool.